Headlight indicator



Nov. 27, 1934.

J. W. STEzJENS HEADLIGH'T TNDICATOR Filed DSC. 4, 1953 /lv VENTO R WHITE/15A 0 AND Vo GL.

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Patented Nov. 2,7, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT oFFicE This invention relates to headlight indicators, namely, devices for indicating to the driver of an automobile whether a headlight thereof is lit or out. The uses of such devices are well known and include the avoidance of arrest under traic laws and ordinances, avoidance of accidents by reason of non-operation of headlights, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient, substantial, and durable device of the class described, and particularly one which shall be of sufficient simplicity and cheapness in construction, and which shall be adaptable for such ease of installation as to render 4the same available to the mass of automobile owners, and therefore merchantable.

A further object is to provide an article of the class described having such a structure that the same may be readily produced from ordinary 29 stock material without the provision ofspecial machinery, tools, or appliances therefor.

With these and other objects in View which will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations,

and arrangements of parts as more fully described in the following specification and defined in the appended claims, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout, and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved indicator as mounted on the rim of an automobile headlight.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, being a view looking in the direction of the arrow at Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom View of the indicator, unattached to the headlight.

Fig. 4 illustrates the blank from which the vertical support of the indicator is formed, and

Fig. 5 illustrates the blank from which the horizontal brace is formed.

Referring to the details of the drawing, the shell of the headlight is indicated at l and the rim thereof at 2. The letter B indicates a glass bar of any ordinary stock construction and of suitable size, for example approximately sevensixteenths of an inch in diameter. The bar is preferably bent at right angles as indicated at 3 and when in position for use has a vertical p0rtion 4 and a horizontal portion 4a.

The glass bar is supported by two supports, preferably of metal, and formed from the blanks illustrated respectively in Figs. 4 and 5. To form these supports the blanks are bent in the following manner. The blank illustratedrin Fig. 4 is bent upon itself so that the central portion thereof, namely, that portion indicated by the numeral 5, will form a circular enclosure for the bar B,

as indicated by the numeral 5 at Figs. 1 and 2, 6G and the portions 6 6 of this blank will form uprights as indicated by the numerals 6 in Figs. 1 and 2, and the portions 7 of the blank will form the feet or attaching means indicated by the numeral 7 in Figs. 1 and 2.

The horizontal brace is formed from the blank illustrated at Fig. 5 whichis bent upon itself so` that the central portion indicated by the numeral 8 forms a loop around the vertical portion of the bar B as indicated at 8 in Figs. 1 and 3 and the 70 portions 9 of the blank from the bracing bars indicated by the numerals 9 in Figs. 1 and 3.

It will be noted that in bending the blanks some space is left between the two parallel portions 6-6 of the vertical support and the two parallel portions 9 9 ofthe horizontal brace. These spaces are clearly shown at 6a in Fig. 2 and 9a in Fig. 3 respectively.

The extremities of the portions 9 9 of the horizontal brace are inserted between the portions 6 6 of the vertical support, and the portions 6 6 and 9 9 are then secured together as by rivet 10. The vertical support and the horizontal brace are thereby firmly secured against re1- ative displacement.

The circular portion 5of the vertical support is preferably formed so as to snugly encase the portion 4a of the bar B, but by reason of the space 6a between the members 6 the necessary amount of resilience is provided and the too-rigid encasement of the bar with its accompanying tendency to break the glass, is avoided.

The horizontal brace is provided with a similar space indicated at 9a in Fig. 3 with the resulting correspondingresilience in the gripping of the vertical portion 4 of thebar.

The feet 7 of the vertical support may be attached to the rim 2 of the light in any suitable manner as by screws or bolts 11.

The lower end 12 ofthe bar Bis colored with any suitable coloring matter, here indicated as purple or brown, it being desirable to use a color not commonly used in automobile lighting or traffic signals.

When the device is thus constructed and in stalled the light from the headlight will be received through the lower colored end of the bar B and transmitted through the bar and emitted through the end 13 of the horizontal portion 4a. of the bar, so that the same may be readily seen by the driver and when no l'ight is emitted from the end 13 it will be obvious to the driver that the headlight is not lighted.

I am aware that other devices for this purpose have been constructed, in some of which special casings are provided for the transparent member, in others of which especially constructed transparent members are used, and in all of which portions are so constructed as to involve comparatively large expense in construction or in special machinery for use in construction of the device, thus adding to the bulk expense and cornplication of the device and lessening its eili ciency and durability, whereas my invention, as illustrated and described, is of utmost efli'ciency, as has been demonstrated in the use thereof, and is of the utmost simplicity and durability combined with economy in expense of production and simplicity in attachment.

Modifications in details of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing specication and the appended claims, and I do not Wish to be restricted to the exact details of the invention as herein illustrated and described.

Iclaim:

1. In an automobile headlight indicator the combination comprising a rod of transparent material bent into two parts at approximately a. right angle relative to each other, a supporting member adapted to be attached to the rim of the headlight and engaging said rod and adapted to support one part of said rod in substantially horizontal position with its end toward the driver, and. a. bracing member affixed to said support and engaging the other part of said rod and adapted to hold said other part in substantially Vertical position with its end in front of said headlight.

2. In an automobile headlight indicator' a right angled rod of transparent material, a support vformed of a strap bent upon itself to form two feet adapted to rest upon and be engaged tc the headlight, two legs upstanding from said feet and surmountedk by a circular member formed of the central portion of said strap and for substantially surrounding and resiliently holding a part of said rod and a brace member formed of a strap bent upon itself to form a circular mehr ber for substantially surrounding and resiliently engaging another part of said rod, and legs extending from said last circular member, the legs of said brace member being ailixed to the legs of said support.

JOHN WOODHULL STEVENS. 

